Two new Seahawks happy to be on same side now

Safety Earl Thomas answers reporters questions Saturday while new teammate Russell Okung laughs in the background as the two first-round draft picks were introduced. (Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com)

Earl Thomas well remembers the first time he met Russell Okung.

The two were competing on opposite sides in the Texas-Oklahoma State game at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., on Halloween when the 5-foot-10, 197-pound Thomas came flying in on a pass rush.

Which is why the new Seahawks safety smiled when asked if he knew the massive Okung when the two were introduced Saturday at team headquarters in Renton.

Russell Okung enjoys a laugh along with his new Seahawks coach, Pete Carroll, during Saturday’s introductory press conference. (Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com)

“We met each other a couple times,” the soft-spoken Thomas said. “It’s a funny story. We played each other. I ran into him.”

Thomas meant that literally.

“I tried to blitz and he caught me up under my shoulder pads and we talked and I told him to please not throw me on the ground,” Thomas said. “He didn’t … and that’s how we first met. I’m glad he’s on my team now.”

But that mutual admiration goes both ways and the 6-5, 307-pound Okung was quick to step in with his own praise of his fellow first-round draft pick.

“He caught a few picks on us,” Okung said. “I don’t think I could take a good enough angle to catch him. It’s better to see him next to me than seeing his backside (running toward the end zone).”

Thomas actually just took one interception back to the house, a 31-yarder in the Longhorns’ 41-14 victory that day.

In hindsight, Okung isn’t sure why he didn’t toss Thomas to the turf when he had his chance.

“I don’t know why I didn’t,” he said, unleashing a broad grin. “I kind of regret it. I should have went ahead and done it. Good thing we’re on the same team now.”

The Seahawks are glad to have both of them as the first round of the draft fell perfectly, allowing Seattle to snap up the much-needed replacement for Walter Jones at left tackle and a safety to fill a huge roster void as well.

The two could be a long-term Mutt-and-Jeff combo for years to come if things do continue to play out right, Okung as the looming presence on the offensive line and Earl the athletic playmaker in the defensive secondary.

Both come from humble backgrounds. Okung’s father was murdered when he was 5 and he grew up quickly as his mom worked several jobs while raising he and his sister in Houston.

Earl’s family home in Orange, Texas, was destroyed by Hurricane Rita in 2005 and his parents have been living since with his grandparents. His grandfather, a minister, has been in and out of intensive care in the hospital for the past month and thus was unable to attend the draft party the Earls held at his church on Thursday night.

It all adds up to a pair of youngsters with a strong sense of family and proper priorities.

Thomas, a quiet and serious sort, vowed to come ready to learn when the Seahawks get underway next week with their first rookie minicamp.

“I don’t like to lose, whether it’s bowling, basketball or anything,” he said. “I’m going to practice hard and we’re going to get after it when we get to practice. I’m young and just want to learn from the older guys that are already here and see why they lasted this long and just take their directions and go from there.”

His reference to bowling brought smiles to Okung and the two Seahawks execs flanked to his side, since GM John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll went to the lanes in Stillwater with Okung on their recent pre-draft hookup.

Carroll has happily noted that he rolled a 120-something that day, about double the scores of his bumbling non-bowling buddies.

It’s all made for good laughs, but Thomas noted afterward that he averages 180 as a bowler. And, yeah, he takes that seriously, too.

As for Okung, he’s dead serious about one thing. He knows he’s following in the giant footsteps of Jones, who is expected to officially announce his retirement this coming week. And, yeah, he’s heard how Big Walt used to train in the offseason by pushing around an Escalade.

“My car is more like a little Volvo,” Okung said. “That’s a lot easier than what he’s doing. But if I have to push around a Cadillac Escalade, then I guess I’m going to end up pushing one around, too. Whatever it takes to get where he is.”

Okung actually has gotten to where Jones once was, in a way, as he played at Qwest Field when Oklahoma State took on Washington State in the 2008 season opener in Seattle.

His focus then was rightfully on the task at hand, not his possible NFL future, but the moment wasn’t lost on him.

“At the time I was more worried about the game and what was going on,” he said. “But the night before I was thinking, ‘Wow, I’m playing at Qwest Field.’ Who’d have ever known I’d be back here?”